Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-03-24
rHs sUe1RrNE sw1NDLBs.
How He WAS Made 20 Fieo "a
Canada by n Delaware City Man.

How He was Made 30 Fieo 90
Canada by n Delaware Oity Man.
Special correspondenceof Gazette and journal
DELAWARE CITY, March 18.-Wll
q. Hickman, the Boston sugarine swim
| dler, who swindled number Of New
York and Boston capitalists out of about
$40, 900 and skipped to Canada whs re he
is now living with his wife in grand style,
swindled William Beck, minee-meat man
utacturer of this place, ont of $1326 by
buying mince.meat from him, selling II
to Boston merchants and pooketipg the
money. His way of doing busines. with
MIR. Beck was as follows: Hickman last
year frequently bought small lots of
mince-meat from Mr.. Beck, and was
always prompt in paying his bills in ten
days, the terms the meat was sold on.
The first OF the year he began buying
again from Mr.. Beck in small way, and
was prompt in paging. One day Mr..
Beck received an order from Hickman
for 20 barrels of mince-meat and the next
day an order for 80 more barrels, Hiek-
man representing that he had contract
for supplying several large bakeries Mr..
Beck thought he had secured large GUS
toner for his product aud engaged extra
help, working night and day to get the
meat made and shipped to Hickman.
The meat was hardly shipped when Mr..
Beck received another order from HiclI-
man for so more barrels. Mr.. Beck
began to get suspicious and conferred
with some of his friends who all Vised him
not TO send the meat until he was paid
for what he had already sent. He wrote
to Hickman to that effect and in reply
Hickman said he would be onto Delaware
City in few days and settle, and for
Mr. Beck to send the other SO barrels,
which Mr.. Beck did not do. However,
Mr.. Beck few days afterward received
postal card from Hickman from Balti-
more asking MIR. Beck to send statement
to him to Barnums Hotel, Baltimore,
when he would send him cheaue Tor the
amount. Mr.. Beck sent the statement as
requested but did not receive a cheque,
receiving in reply a telegram from Hick.
man dated Washington, stating that be
would be in Delaware City in few days
and settle. The few days passed aud no
Hickman appeared, but he sent letter
to Mr.. Beck with note at four months
for amount due representing that he was
unable to collect money due him but that
he had property in Boston worth $1S, 1000
and the note would be paid at maturity.
Mr.. Beck employed q Boston lawyer to
look after his interests and about the 1st
of February went to Boston himself TO
try and get settlement with Hickman.
In Boston, Mr.. Beck went to Hickman's
sugarine place, II Oliver street, but could
not find him, and was unable to come up
with him at all while in that city. Mr..
Beck left his claim in his lawyers hands
and came home. HIS lawyer employed a
detective to shadow Hickman, who soon
nad a complete chain of evidence against
aiin, and was about to arrest him aid in
1tituie criminal proceedings when be got
IN iukling and left Boston leaving his
creditors in the lurch. Mr.. Beck will
nave warrant issued for Hickman and
keep on the lookout for him, ms he is ex-
pected TO visit Philadelphia. There is no
doubt but whit Mr.. Becks action
hastened his fight from Boston.